Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is an important therapeutic option for Clostridium difficile infection. There are indications of it’s potential effect on other disorders associated with the alteration of gut microbiota, such as inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and functional gastrointestinal disorders.
A recent Australian study analised the efficacity of multidonor faecal microbiota transplantation on active ulcerative colitis.
The authors found that the primary outcome (steroid-free clinical remission with endoscopic remission or response after 8 weeks of treatment) was achieved in 27% of patients allocated faecal microbiota transplantation versus 8% of those who got placebo. Microbial diversity increased with and persisted after faecal microbiota transplantation. Moreover, several bacterials were found to be associated with clinical outcome; in particular, the presence of Fusobacterium spp was associated with lack of remission.
Faecal microbiota transplantation is, thus, a promising new therapeutic option for ulcerative colitis and a domain worth of being developed.